Three Questions: Susan Orr, Morris County curator

Local history isn’t just a concept — it’s a tactile and visual narrative. As the new curator of the Morris County Historical Society, Susan Orr is on a mission to tell the county’s story through the objects and artwork that remain from its rich history.

Orr began working for the historical society in June and is one of its two full-time staff members. She and director Amy Curry work at Acorn Hall, the 1853 Morristown mansion that houses collections of art, ceramics, textiles, oriental rugs and other historical objects.

As the curator, Orr’s responsibilities range from communicating with other historical societies to preserving objects in the collection to creating the three or four new exhibits at Acorn Hall. And because the museum doesn’t staff a housecleaner, she also takes out the trash.

A West Virginia native with a background in anthropology and historic archaeology, Orr directed an archaeology lab before moving to New Jersey to study museums at Seton Hall University. From there, she worked at the Trenton City Museum and the Hebrew Union College Museum in New York City. Growing weary of the commute from her Watchung home to Manhattan, she jumped at the opportunity to curate the Morris County Historical Society.

Beyond general maintenance and updating of Acorn Hall, Orr is in the process of curating "Women Artists of Morris County," an exhibit of current and historical artwork by female artists in the area.

Q. Morris County is well known for its Colonial and Revolutionary history. What less familiar aspects of its history are you looking forward to bringing light to?A. I would like to tell the story of the groups that predominantly weren’t mentioned in history. During the Revolutionary War you have the patriots, but what about their wives, what about their servants? We have the Revolutionary War really well covered, but you have the Civil War. I want to tell the story of the everyday citizens of Morris County. Hopefully, we’ll be able to use the resources here to do that. I’m learning as I go, which is kind of cool.

Q. How do you engage non-history buffs in local history?A. Through exhibits and educational programming. The educational programming will be handled by the director and volunteers. We’re just starting to reach out to various historical societies and museums. We’re trying to cross-promote and get people to come in and see the new Acorn Hall. We’re trying to get out into the public more, and we’re bringing in an exhibit where you have living artists that are participating. You can get people to see that art is art; it doesn’t matter if it’s old or new.

Q. How do you tell a story with objects?A. I find something that I’m interested in or that someone in the community has interest in. We have an exhibit opening in December — "Women Artists of Morris County." That all started from going through the collection and finding paintings by (landscape artist and printmaker) Lucille Hobbie.

I thought it would be nice to do something with those that would be of interest to the community.

I put a call out to women artists of Morris County, and we’re getting submissions from various artists. It’s finding something in the collection that’s interesting and expanding on it.

We’re doing all the research, we create a description of how the collection came together. Usually one thing leads to another. Basically, the process is happenstance — you find something, and it leads to something else.